Low-phase-noise 0.63-V, 1.7-mW, 11.55-GHz quadrature voltage controlled oscillator with intrinsic-tuned technique in 0.18-μm complimentary metal oxide semi-conductor
Journal
IET Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation
Journal Volume
6
Journal Issue
13
Pages
1437-1442
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
A low-power and low-phase-noise 11.55-GHz quadrature voltage-controlled oscillator (QVCO) using intrinsic-tuned technique is demonstrated in a standard 0.18-?m complimentary metal oxide semi-conductor (CMOS) technology. Intrinsic-tuned technique means the intrinsic junction capacitances at the drain terminals of the cross-coupled transistors are regarded as varactors, so no extra low-Q accumulation-mode MOS varactors are needed. This in turn results in a reduction of power consumption, a minimisation of parasitic capacitance effect (i.e. an increase of the operation frequency) and an improvement of phase noise. The QVCO core draws 2.7 mA current from a 0.63 V power supply, that is, it only consumes 1.7 mW. The QVCO achieves a tuning range of 3.9% (11.11�V11.55 GHz) and a low phase noise of ?114.7 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from 11.55 GHz. The corresponding figure-of-merit is ?193.6 dBc/Hz, one of the best results ever reported for an X-band CMOS QVCO/VCO. The core circuit occupies a chip area of only 0.64��0.58 mm2, that is, 0.37 mm2.
SDGs
Type
journal article